AJC Applauds Focus on Hostages at 2024 State of the Union Address

American Jewish Committee (AJC) today applauded both President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of members of Congress for reaffirming the United States' commitment to bringing all the hostages home from Gaza and sharing the stories of those still being held in captivity by Hamas.

"Today marks five months since 240 children, parents, aunts, uncles, and grandparents were ripped from their homes and kidnapped into Gaza. Over 150 days later, more than half of them are still in Hamas captivity, in addition to four others who have been held hostage since 2014. We cannot and must not rest until all of them are home," said AJC CEO Ted Deutch. "We are grateful to the bipartisan group of lawmakers who brought family members of the hostages and a survivor to tonight's State of the Union and to President Biden and his administration for their continued efforts to negotiate a deal that would lead to the hostages' release. Making clear the U.S. commitment to such a deal during the State of the Union is an undeniably strong statement to the rest of the world."

AJC also welcomed President Biden's announcement that the U.S. military will establish a temporary pier in Gaza and leverage the strategic location of Cyprus to deliver additional humanitarian aid, in cooperation and coordination with Israel.

"As the U.S., Israel, and the international community continue to deliver humanitarian aid to Gazans, we must ensure that it is delivered to those who really need it - and not Hamas, the Iran-backed internationally recognized terror group that perpetrated the massacre on October 7 and continues to endanger both Israelis and Palestinians. Hopefully, this new operation will help to make that happen. Ultimately, as we grapple with the devastating loss of lives - Palestinian and Israeli - and 134 hostages still being held by Hamas terrorists, the international community must find a way to get Hamas to accept a temporary ceasefire that allows for hostages to be freed and humanitarian conditions in Gaza to improve," added Deutch.

Immediately after October 7, AJC committed itself to advocacy on behalf of the hostages, raising awareness with government officials at every level in the United States and abroad, with civil society partners, religious leaders, and the news media, and through direct and sustained engagement with families of hostages. The organization has helped numerous delegations of families of those held hostage meet with members of Congress, diplomats, United Nations officials, and members of the U.S. Administration, including the Vice President, and key officials of the State Department, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and other agencies.

AJC is the global advocacy organization for the Jewish people. With headquarters in New York, 25 offices across the United States, 14 overseas posts, as well as partnerships with 38 Jewish community organizations worldwide, AJC's mission is to enhance the well-being of the Jewish people and Israel and to advance human rights and democratic values in the United States and around the world. For more, please visit www.ajc.org

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